United States Department of Transportation
i
Pavement Safety-Based Guidelines for Horizontal Curve Safety
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2018-11-01
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[PDF-4.34 MB]
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Edition:September 2016–August 2018
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Abstract:The Texas Department of Transportation is increasing its efforts to improve rural highway curve safety by including high-friction surface treatments in the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP). A handful of efforts are underway in the state to install these treatments or others that are intended to improve safety by increasing pavement skid resistance. However, HSIP funds are very limited. Hence, it is necessary to prioritize projects carefully to spend the limited funds where they would yield the greatest benefit in terms of crashes reduced and injuries and fatalities prevented. Documents like the Roadway Safety Design Workbook and the Highway Safety Manual contain much useful information about the safety effects of design characteristics like curve radius and cross-sectional widths, but pavement characteristics are not yet included in these documents. In this research project, researchers calibrated detailed safety prediction models to account for the effects of key curve characteristics, including geometry, pavement variables (particularly skid resistance), and weather patterns. Additionally, researchers developed estimates of the service life for various surface treatments that may be used to increase skid resistance. By combining safety prediction models, weather data, and service life data, researchers created guidelines and a life-cycle benefit-cost evaluation framework to assist practitioners in choosing effective safety treatments for curves.
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